Thursday, August 30, 2007
YOUNGSTOWN — “Beauty and the Beast” will run Sept. 28-30 at Powers Auditorium. Curtain times are 8 p.m. for the Friday and Saturday performances and 2:30 p.m. for the Sunday show. Tickets are available by calling (330) 744-0264 or online at youngstownsymphony.com.
“Beauty and the Beast” is the first of three musical theater shows that will be produced and presented under the auspices of East Street Productions and the Youngstown Symphony Society at the DeYor Performing Arts Center during the season.
When Walt Disney Pictures’ full-length animated feature film “Beauty and the Beast” was released, critics praised its songs as worthy of a Broadway musical. Simply staging a theatrical version of a film slights both media. Easy Street Productions and the Youngstown Symphony Society have sought to combine the strengths of the beloved story and a unique live theater production with lavish costumes and sets and lighting that create a fairy-tale atmosphere coupled with a story filled with humor, magic, mystery, romance and suspense.
About the story
“Beauty and the Beast” tells the story of a handsome prince turned into a hideous beast by an enchantress. The Beast/Prince must learn to love another and earn their love in return before the last petal falls from the Enchanted Rose. If not, the Prince will be doomed to remain a Beast for all time.
The Beast, played by James McClellan, remains in his castle with Lumiere, the lovestruck candelabra, portrayed by Todd Hancock; Cogsworth, the pompous clock, played by David Jendre; the kindly Mrs. Potts, performed by Maureen Collins; and an inquisitive teacup named Chip, played by Jarret Kerpsack. The show’s heroine, Belle, performed by Elysia Shutrump, is a beautiful young girl who lives with her father, Maurice (Eric McClellan), in a small village near the castle. When Belle’s father is imprisoned by the Beast, Belle offers herself to the Beast in exchange for her father’s freedom. The Beast accepts Belle’s offer to exchange places and eventually falls in love with Belle, but is afraid to tell her.
Audiences young and old will delight in this timeless tale of love’s conquest over evil and the happily every after ending to the story.
Todd Hancock will direct the production. Jeff Sanders will provide musical direction to the Oscar-winning score from the film by Menken and Ashman which was later expanded by Menken and Tim Rice for the Broadway musical. Choreography will be staged by Renee Rogers.
XPatricia Syak is executive director of the Youngstown Symphony Society.